Euphorbia plant named ‘UNIEUP-1’

ABSTRACT

A new and distinct cultivar of  Euphorbia  plant named ‘UNIEUP-1’, characterized by its compact, upright, outwardly spreading and mounding plant habit; vigorous growth habit; freely branching habit; and numerous white-colored flowers.

Botanical designation: Euphorbia graminea.

Cultivar denomination: ‘UNIEUP-1’.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

The present invention relates to a new and distinct cultivar of Euphorbia plant, botanically known as Euphorbia graminea and hereinafter referred to by the name ‘UNIEUP-1’.

The new Euphorbia plant is a product of a planned breeding program conducted by the Inventor in Victoria Point, Queensland, Australia. The objective of the breeding program is to create new compact Euphorbia plants with numerous flowers.

The new Euphorbia plant originated from a self-pollination in April, 2008 in Victoria Point, Queensland, Australia of Euphorbia graminea ‘Inneuphdia’, disclosed in U.S. Plant Pat. No. 17,567. The new Euphorbia plant was discovered and selected by the Inventor as a single flowering plant within the progeny of the stated self-pollination in a controlled greenhouse environment in Victoria Point, Queensland, Australia in November, 2008.

Asexual reproduction of the new Euphorbia plant by vegetative cuttings in a controlled greenhouse environment in Victoria Point, Queensland, Australia since November, 2008, has shown that the unique features of this new Euphorbia plant are stable and reproduced true to type in successive generations.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

Plants of the new Euphorbia have not been observed under all possible environmental conditions and cultural practices. The phenotype may vary somewhat with variations in environmental conditions such as temperature and light intensity without, however, any variance in genotype.

The following traits have been repeatedly observed and are determined to be the unique characteristics of ‘UNIEUP-1’. These characteristics in combination distinguish ‘UNIEUP-1’ as a new and distinct Euphorbia plant:

-   -   1. Compact, upright, outwardly spreading and mounding plant         habit.     -   2. Vigorous growth habit.     -   3. Freely branching habit.     -   4. Numerous white-colored flowers.

The new Euphorbia can be compared to plants of the parent, ‘Inneuphdia’. Plants of the new Euphorbia differ primarily from plants of ‘Inneuphdia’ in the following characteristics:

-   -   1. Plants of the new Euphorbia are more compact than plants of         ‘Inneuphdia’.     -   2. Plants of the new Euphorbia have shorter internodes than         plants of ‘Inneuphdia’.     -   3. Plants of the new Euphorbia have darker-colored lateral         branches than plants of ‘Inneuphdia’.     -   4. Plants of the new Euphorbia and ‘Inneuphdia’ differ slightly         in flower color.

Plants of the new Euphorbia can be compared to plants of Chamaesyce hypericifolia ‘Silverfog’, disclosed in U.S. Plant Pat. No. 20,858. Plants of the new Euphorbia differ from plants of ‘Silverfog’ in the following characteristics:

-   -   1. Plants of the new Euphorbia are slightly more vigorous than         plants of ‘Silverfog’.     -   2. Plants of the new Euphorbia have darker-colored lateral         branches than plants of ‘Silverfog’.     -   3. Plants of the new Euphorbia and ‘Silverfog’ differ slightly         in flower color.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE PHOTOGRAPHS

The accompanying colored photographs illustrate the overall appearance of the new Euphorbia plant showing the colors as true as it is reasonably possible to obtain in colored reproductions of this type. Colors in the photographs may differ slightly from the color values cited in the detailed botanical description which accurately describe the colors of the new Euphorbia plant.

The photograph at the bottom of the sheet is a side perspective view of a typical flowering plant of ‘UNIEUP-1’ grown in a container.

The photograph at the top of the sheet is a close-up view of a typical flowering plant of ‘UNIEUP-1’.

DETAILED BOTANICAL DESCRIPTION

The aforementioned photographs and following observations, measurements and values describe plants grown in 15.24-cm containers during the early spring in a polyethylene-covered greenhouse in Bonsall, Calif. and under cultural practices typical of commercial Euphorbia production. During the production of the plants, day temperatures ranged from 20° C. to 24° C., night temperatures ranged from 14° C. to 18° C. and light levels ranged from 4,200 to 5,000 lux. Plants were pinched two times and were four months old when the photographs and description were taken. In the following description, color references are made to The Royal Horticultural Society Colour Chart, 2007 Edition, except where general terms of ordinary dictionary significance are used.

-   Botanical classification: Euphorbia graminea ‘UNIEUP-1’. -   Parentage: Self-pollination of Euphorbia graminea ‘Inneuphdia’,     disclosed in U.S. Plant Pat. No. 17,567. -   Propagation:     -   -   Type.—By vegetative cuttings.         -   Time to initiate roots, summer.—About 14 days at             temperatures of about 20° C.         -   Time to initiate roots, winter.—About 18 days at             temperatures of about 20° C.         -   Time to produce a rooted young plant, summer and             winter.—About 20 days at temperatures of about 20° C.         -   Root description.—Fine, fleshy; white in color.         -   Rooting habit.—Freely branching; medium density. -   Plant description:     -   -   Plant form and growth habit.—Compact, upright, outwardly             spreading and mounding plant habit; broad inverted triangle;             vigorous growth habit.         -   Branching habit.—Freely branching habit; plants with             numerous secondary and tertiary lateral branches developing             per plant; pinching enhances lateral branch development.         -   Plant height.—About 14.5 cm.         -   Plant diameter.—About 28 cm.         -   Lateral branch description.—Length: About 12.5 cm. Diameter:             About 1.5 mm. Internode length: About 4 cm. Strength:             Moderately strong. Texture: Smooth, glabrous. Color: Close             to 137B. -   Foliage description:     -   -   Arrangement.—Opposite; simple.         -   Length.—About 1.1 cm.         -   Width.—About 6 mm.         -   Shape.—Elliptical.         -   Apex.—Broadly acute to slightly rounded.         -   Base.—Attenuate.         -   Margin.—Entire.         -   Texture, upper surface.—Mostly glabrous; few tiny hairs             along the margins.         -   Texture, lower surface.—Pubescent.         -   Venation.—Pinnate, arcuate.         -   Color.—Developing leaves, upper surface: Close to 137A.             Developing leaves, lower surface: Close to 137C. Fully             developed leaves, upper surface: Close to 137A; venation,             close to 137A. Fully developed leaves, lower surface: Close             to 137B; venation, close to 138B.         -   Petioles.—Length: About 9 mm. Diameter: About 1 mm. Texture,             upper and lower surfaces: Smooth, glabrous. Color, upper             surface: Close to 138A. Color, lower surface: Close to 146B. -   Inflorescence description:     -   -   Flower arrangement/habit.—Single rotate flowers arranged in             terminal clusters; very freely flowering with numerous             flower buds and flowers per plant; flowers face upright and             outwardly.         -   Fragrance.—None detected.         -   Natural flowering season.—Plants flower naturally from the             spring to autumn in Southern California; flowering             continuous during this period.         -   Flower longevity on the plant.—About five to seven days;             flowers persistent.         -   Flower diameter.—About 1.1 cm.         -   Flower depth (height).—About 1 cm.         -   Floral bracts.—Quantity and arrangement: Two to four;             opposite. Length: About 5 mm. Width: About 2 mm. Shape:             Narrowly spatulate. Apex: Broadly acute to rounded. Base:             Attenuate. Margin: Entire. Texture, upper and lower             surfaces: Smooth, glabrous. Color: When opening and fully             opened, upper surface: Close to NN155D. When opening and             fully opened, lower surface: Close to NN155D. Petioles:             Length: About 2 mm. Diameter: Less than 1 mm. Texture, upper             and lower surfaces: Smooth, glabrous. Color, upper and lower             surfaces: Close to 138C.         -   Peduncles.—Length: About 1.5 mm. Diameter: Less than 1 mm.             Strength: Moderately strong. Texture: Smooth, glabrous.             Color: Close to 138A.         -   Cyathia.—Quantity per flower: About two. Length: About             3.5 mm. Diameter: About 2.5 mm. Shape: Oval. Aspect:             Upright. Color, immature: Close to 138A. Color, mature:             Close to 137A.         -   Nectaries.—Nectary development has not been observed on             plants of the new Euphorbia.         -   Reproductive organs.—Androecium: Quantity: About two to             three stamens per cyathia. Filament length: About 1 mm.             Filament color: Close to NN155D. Anther length: Less than             1 mm. Anther shape: Bi-lobed. Anther color: Close to 2B.             Pollen amount: Scarce. Pollen color: Close to 2B. Gynoecium:             Quantity: One per cyathia. Pistil length: About 3 mm. Style             length: About 1 mm. Style color: Close to NN155D. Stigma             shape: Branched. Stigma color: Close to NN155D. Ovary color:             Close to 137D. Seeds and fruits: Seed and fruit development             have not been observed on plants of the new Euphorbia. -   Temperature tolerance: Plants of the new Euphorbia have been     observed to have tolerate temperatures ranging from about 10° C. to     about 40° C. -   Pathogen & pest resistance: Plants of the new Euphorbia have not     been observed to be resistant to pathogens and pests common to     Euphorbia plants. 

It is claimed:
 1. A new and distinct Euphorbia plant named ‘UNIEUP-1’ as illustrated and described. 